Blackberry Q10 Launch Date Delayed, Likely to Arrive in Mid-May or Early June

Still skeptical about Blackberry’s all touchscreen phone, the Z10? Well, it turns out that the white version of the handset has sold out in the UK, and the black version is hard to stock up again.” Sounds a bit spinster to me, but nevertheless promising for the company.

However, during an interview that was released by the AP today, Blackberry’s CTO said that we shouldn’t expect the Q10, the company’s tactile keyboard phone, until mid-May if not June. The delay? Carrier testing in the US. Each carrier has extensive testing regulations before releasing a phone, which in Blackberry’s case is understandable. That being said, there still isn’t an official launch date for the Z10, Blackberry’s competitor to the iPhone, which ate the company’s lunch – according to an IDC report Blackberry shipments plummeted from 46% in 2008 to 2% in 2012, largely because of the iPhone and Android handsets.

So why is the Z10 releasing first? Apparently, Blackberry decided to apply their initial focus on that handset given its complexity. Blackberry’s CTO also indicated that they wanted to participate in the trend of employees using their own touchscreen devices for work instead of being issued the always safe, and reliable Blackberry. How much opportunity exists in this segment I don’t know, but logic seems to suggest that the Q10 would have a more fitting place in this particular instance.

For the sake of perspective, RIM’s (now just Blackberry) rigidness and inability to adapt to consumer demand cost shareholders $70 billion, and the Canadian economy 5,000 jobs.

Christen Costa

Grew up back East, got sick of the cold and headed West. Since I was small I have been pushing buttons - both electronic and human. With an insatiable need for tech I thought "why not start a blog focusing on technology, and use my dislikes and likes to post on gadgets."